If you have grown accustomed to taking in the beautiful sights of the Boca Grande Causeway by meandering across on foot, you’ll have to make other plans in the near future. The end of an era is nigh.

Next Thursday or Friday, June 7 or 8, the south bridge will see its final traffic after 54 years of service. The temporary bridge is in place, and plans to connect it to the causeway continue.

The temporary bridge is scheduled to be open for just over six months, when the new south bridge will be completed.

Two memorial services will be held this weekend in Boca Grande.

Mary Alice King will be honored at a memorial at the Crowninshield Community House on Saturday, June 2 at 3 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

George Wetmiller will be remembered at a memorial service at the Lighthouse United Methodist Church of Boca Grande, located at Gilchrist Avenue and 3rd Street, on Sunday, June 3, at 4:30 p.m.

For their complete obituaries, go to the "obituary" section.

BY LIZA STROUT - Eight wounded warriors visited the Englewood area this Memorial Day weekend. Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lew Hastings went out to extend the greetings of the island to the heroes, hosted by Rudy Salas and AVAST (Amputee V.A. Support Team) of Tampa and sponsored by the Wounded Warrior Project.

The Wounded Warrior Project was founded to help service members who have been injured while serving our country in the days since Sept. 11, 2001. Its mission is “To honor and empower wounded warriors.”

On Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3, the island will see two of the most popular tarpon tournaments held annually in Boca Grande waters.

The Gasparilla Island Bridge and Toll Authority currently has three elected voting board positions open in the November 6 general election.

Each elected GIBA board position is a four-year term with no compensation. All five publicly-elected GIBA “voting” members have the full power to vote and conduct the annual business of the GIBA Board via majority vote.

The Friends of Boca Grande Community Center are currently accepting 2012-2013 school-year applications for the after-school program and the Munchkin program.

Anyone interested in signing their children up for the programs is encouraged to call the Friends office and speak with Angela Colosimo at 964-0827.